Following the close of his Select School in
Kings Ferry in the spring, James Griffing took employment as an agent for a map company
and traveled briefly during the summer months selling maps in the vicinity of the
canals and railroads. After visiting his hometown of Owego, New York, in late summer and bidding adieu to
Augusta, he boarded the train and began the journey back to
Middletown, Connecticut, to finish his senior year at Wesleyan University. This letter was written shortly
after his arrival on the college grounds:
Middletown
[Connecticut]
September 4, 1851
Dearest
Augusta,
At the very
earliest opportunity I seat myself to write you from my old home. Home, did I
say? Once it seemed like home, for it was the place where brothers and fathers,
all interested in my daily walks and ways lived with me. But how is it now?
Strange faces meet me on every side, whilst those whom I learned to love as
myself have been scattered to the four winds to seek their fortune and fill up
their destiny. Some are in California, some far away in the great West, one has
left as a missionary to China, others to benefit the heathen elsewhere. High
privileged souls thy opportunities have been great thy accountability will be
proportionate. However in my class I recognize a few old familiar faces, yet even
there are many strangers. Consequently I shall defer saying anything concerning
[my classmates] until my next [letter] and an opportunity is afforded me to become
[better] acquainted with them.
You remember
what a beautiful day it was when I left Owego, [New York]? Oh how much this with
the prospect before me tended to add interest to my journey. From Owego to
Binghamton, I had the pleasure of riding in the [railroad] car with the
ex-President, Martin Van Buren. He is apparently about 65, fast striding the
downhill of life. He is near the size of James Wright of Owego, had a Rockwood
countenance, blue eyes, lion white hair and whiskers passing from his ears to
the corners of his mouth, and a great lover of peaches. Yet the sound of his
name gives not those pleasurable emotions to the patriot that it did once. In
this age of the world, it seems to be death for any politician to change his
political views. At both Owego and Binghamton it was hardly known that he was in
the cars. Yet there have been times when even the intimation that Martin Van
Buren was to pass those places would have created the greatest enthusiasm. [1]
I did not
arrive at Binghamton in time to take the stage for Greene and was glad of it as
circumstances turned out. I had a few maps that I wished to sell and I succeeded
as well (I presume) along the line of the railroad as if I had taken the other
route.
I met my
brother [Daniel] at Suffern in Orange County and went with him to [New York City]. I was
very sorry to hear through him of [my brother] Henry’s accident and still was
glad that it proved no worse. Do you know whether there is any probability of
his recovering damages of the company? Stopped in the city over the Sabbath,
found [my brother-in-law] Mr. Kelly’s people well. Charlotte, [his second
wife,] is preceptress of a very interesting school of about 350. She has four
assistants in her department and likes her occupation much.
On Monday we
went by steamboat to Flushing, Long Island, to visit a niece [named Louisa
Kelly], -- Mr. Kelly’s oldest girl, about 18. She is learning the Milliner’s
trade and has improved very much in every respect since I last saw her. I was
fearful that she would be so diffident and childish as always to prove a source
of annoyance to herself and of regret to her friends, yet she was glad to see us
and received us joyfully. She took us about and showed us every place of
interest. The lady with whom she works speaks very highly of her and has made
her many presents. Flushing is truly a delightful place. It stands upon an
eminence and overlooks as beautiful scenery (I presume) as any other point the
whole length of the island. [It] is about the same size of Owego, and a resort
for parties of pleasure from the city [of New York].
Did not start
for Middletown until Tuesday at 4 o’clock [and] arrived early the next
morning. Several of the students were on the boat. Had a truly pleasant time up
the [Long Island] Sound and [Connecticut] River, and arrived just daylight. And
you may rest assured was right glad to enter the gloomy [college] walls again.
Was much more
fortunate than I expected to be in securing a chum. His name is [Simeon] Chester
of Brooklyn, Ohio. He went out home this vacation and has not returned. His
former chum was Enoch Jagger of Huntington, Long Island. During last vacation,
he (Mr. Jagger) was taken sick and after a short sickness was removed from a large
circle of friends below to join the spotless throng who are ever ready to
welcome those so well prepared as was he to join their number. I know it is
customary to eulogize the dead and often things are said illy comporting with
the life and character of the deceased, yet the pen of eulogy cannot speak in
too high terms of our friend Jagger. Without exception, I must pronounce him as
exemplary a student as I ever knew, generous, devoted, beloved, prepared. He has
gone a little before us, if possible to make that better world more attractive
and to incline us more faithfully to seek preparation for our final exit.
A
pen & ink sketch of Wesleyan University
drawn by Enoch Jagger in 1850
Special Collections, Wesleyan University
I have been
endeavoring as well as I could in the absence of my chum to arrange my room and
prepare for a new siege at housekeeping and now I should be truly happy to show
you about my room and let you see all the nice things, besides a great many not
so nice. We have a front room third floor, middle section [Room 22] – a very
pleasant one indeed – next to Prof. [Augustus] Smith’s so that we shall be
obliged to keep pretty steady. My brother Betrians all appeared right glad to
welcome me back and I truly rejoiced in the privilege of squeezing their digits
again.
You
know after I arrived here I could not wait until Saturday before I went up to
see Hancie [Abbey], so Wednesday afternoon I persuaded Bro. [Gorham] Walton to accompany
me up there. Was right glad to find Cousin Hancie at home and just precisely the
same old girl, glad to see us. Aunt Rachel [Goodrich] appeared much better than I have ever
known her before. She was about helping do the work and seemed to have thrown
aside all those gloomy feelings that seemed to have characterized her formerly.
Hancie was very glad to get your letter. As to that package you sent, I put them
in charge of a gentleman with whom I became slightly acquainted on the steamboat
on his way to Hartford. I have no doubt to their safe deliverance. However, I
shall drop a line to your Uncle [Elizur Goodrich] today in order that I may have
proof positive. Now friend A., pardon this quick scribble. I have no time to
copy. Have written in the midst of taking down carpets, putting up bedsteads and
so forth. Please write soon as you receive this and forget not ever to recognize
me as ever yours, -- James
The
fall term of the 1851-1852 school year began at Wesleyan University on Thursday,
September 4th -- the day James penned the previous letter to Augusta. His assigned roommate
or "chum" would turn out to be a young man four years his junior from Mercer,
Maine, named Gorham R. Walton as James would explain in a letter to follow. They
were both members of the Philorhetorian Society and the Missionary Lyceum, and
Walton was a Phi Beta Kappa -- together they would tackle the rigorous course
schedule [2] and make the most of their senior year.
When
James returned to Wesleyan University in September, 1851, the first thing he did
was to pay his debts for the second and third terms of his Junior year, which
should have previously been paid in May and August of 1849, respectively. Next, he
attempted to
reestablish himself in the Philorhetorian Society and the Missionary Lyceum, two
campus societies in which he was formerly very active. The former met for the first time in the fall term on September 9th, and
the latter on September 15th.
The
following extracts come from the minutes of both the Philorhetorian Society and
the Missionary Lyceum:
Philorhetorian Hall, September 9, 1851
It being the
first meeting of the term, the members came flocking in[to the hall] in great
numbers and full of genial spirit to commence the duties of another year. Mr.
Harringtontook the chair and Mr. Fossacted as [Recording] Secretary. The records of several meetings were read and approved. The
Society proceeded to the election of officers which resulted as follows:
Foss
... President
Warren ... Recording Secretary
Dusenbere ... Corresponding Secretary
Ridlesbarger ... Treasurer
...Mr.
Harrington was elected to deliver a public oration in the Philorehetorian Hall
on the 14th of next month. In the department of miscellaneous business, Messrs.
[Calvin] Harrington, Jones, [and] [Walter] Oakley are appointed to confer with
the Peitholohian Society in regard to the time of the next oration. Reported
immediately that the Peithologian claimed the right to have their oration in the
next Tuesday evening when it was voted to adjourn our our oration one week. The
society then received a committee from the Pheithologian Society that, if it met
the approbation of members, that we should appoint a Committee to confer with
them in relation to dressing our Halls in mourning (during our coming exercises)
in memory [of] our dear departed president [Olin].
Question
for One Week -- "Would it be expedient to annex Cuba to the U.S. in the
present crisis? [7] Society then adjourned for one
week. Here endeth the first labors
of Senior A. C. Foss, President.
Philorhetorian
Hall, September 16, 1851
The
society met as usual, Mr. Foss occupying the [President's] chair. The roll being called, the Society voted to adjourn to the Peithologian
Hall to listen to an oration by Mr. Clark. After which the members returned, heard, and approved the minutes of the
last meeting, and listened to a very animated discussion -- from Messrs.
Dussenbere & Harrington [arguing the] Aff[irmative] & Van Pelten &
_____ [arguing the] Neg[ative]. Decision
in favor of the Negative. The
Committee of trimming the Hall reported progress.
Messrs Griffin[g], Conrad & Martin were added to the Committee and
invested with discretionary powers... The following Question was adopted for
discussion [in] one week: "Does
the progress of civilization decrease the desire of military glory?"
Missionary
Hall, September 15, 1851
The
Society met for the first time this term. The
President, Bro. Clark, took the chair and called Bro. Griffin[g] to open the
exercises by prayer. The
Secretaryship being vacant by the death of Bro. [Enoch] Jagger, A. C. Foss was chosen
Secretary pro. tem. The Essayists
being absent, the Disputants took their place for the Discussion.
Appointments
for 1 week, Bros. Brush, Loomis, McIntyre, & C.D. Foss, Disputants.
For
2 weeks, Bros. Cook, Oakley, Hill, and Knowles, Disputants.
C.
D.
Foss was then elected Recording Secretary. Question for one week, "Are extemporaneous sermons preferable to
written ones?
[1]
Though a native son, Martin Van Buren was not well-liked by many New Yorkers
during his Presidency (1837 to 1841) and afterward. On the verge of the economic
collapse known as the Panic of 1837, the Owego Advertiser -- a Whig publication
-- had the following to say about him in its March 9, 1837 edition:
"We
do not believe that there is a single individual in this country, of ordinary
intelligence, who on reviewing the administration of the government for the last
eight years [under Andrew Jackson], can conscientiously say that it was
conducted to elevate our condition -- to render us more respected abroad, or
more happy and united at home. On the contrary, Europeans have exalted at the
apparent approval of the dissolution of this union, and the complete nullity of
the Constitution. They have see a president, enjoying unbounded popularity, who
declared that the Constitution should be construed as HE understood it; and they
have seem him carry his monstrous doctrines into practice. In accordance with
such practices, they have seen the country agitated to its centre -- Lynch and
mob law triumphant -- and the people, construing the statutes as they understand
it, -- abrogating all law, defying all power, committing depredations on
property, and sacrificing human life to their new ideas of liberty and equality.
Such has been the effect of this "reign of terror," and all good
citizens will rejoice at its termination. It is true that the present incumbent
has declared his intentions to trend in the footsteps of Gen. Jackson, but he
dare not do it. The personal popularity of Jackson bore him onward -- through
all obstacles. Van Buren has none. He has hitherto been propped up by Jackson's
strength. That is now gone, and necessity will compel him to a different course;
whither beneficial to the country or not, time will
show."
[2]
The University Catalogue for the year 1851-1852 shows the following courses
for the Senior Class:
